TGL Tested: Our Takes on Graphic Design Tools

ICYMI: TGL Tested is our series where we explore the newest and trendiest digital marketing tools for tasks, including skills such as video editing, email marketing, and website design. We’ve tested them so you don’t have to, so you’ll know what’s worth trying and what can be ignored.

This week, we’re diving into the creative world of graphic design, what tools are out there, and their pros and cons. Here at TGL, each team member has a unique work style tailored to their roles and client goals, but we seem to all be on the same page when it comes to graphic design. 

Canva

Canva is among the top 10 leading graphic design software companies, taking 4th place (Number 1 in our hearts). 

This online design platform allows you to create a wide range of visual content, from social media graphics to presentations, videos, and even templates for a portfolio website. It offers a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality, making it accessible to users of all skill levels. Canva provides an extensive library of templates, images, fonts, and other design elements, making it easy to produce professional-quality designs quickly and easily.

Pros:

• 30-day free trial of Canva Pro

• Canva offers both a free and paid Pro plan for whatever your design needs look like

• Canva offers a free Pro version for some nonprofits (Canva Nonprofit). You can check out the eligibility guidelines here.

• Team access to projects so you’re easily able to work on designs together

• You can share designs directly to social media with Canva Pro

• Pre-sized social media templates for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc

• Mobile accessibility

• You can bulk-create content 

Cons:

• The free version has limited access to stock photos

• Canva can delete your account without your approval if you violate any of its policies.

• Unique designs are limited. While there are ways to customize designs for your brand, other organizations may use the same template as you. 

Tested by: Senior Project Manager, Renee Tate

“Canva! It's by far the best one out there, with so many templates and features available. I especially like their bulk create feature, which allows you to customize a design and import content/copy from a spreadsheet or data source. This is such a time saver and game changer to ensure you have designed graphics to go with everything you need for social media or even an event. It's also easy to use, they have a ton of trainings, and their paid packages are affordable as well.”

Tested by: Consultant, Erin Mishkin

“Canva! It's the only one I've tried recently, and I love it because it's easy to use, offers templates that are easy to customize, and are aesthetically pleasing.”

Tested by: Slice Author and Social Media Coordinator, Jade Martin

“In my opinion, Canva is the all-in-one graphic design superstar. ”

Tested by: Boss Lady, Katie Stanton

“Canva! It's the top choice for a reason, and they're adding features all the time. I'm continually impressed by how focused they are on user experience even though they're growing rapidly.”

Adobe Express

Adobe Express, formerly known as Adobe Spark, is a versatile online and mobile design tool that allows you to create fun graphics, web pages, and video stories. It integrates with other Adobe products like Photoshop and Illustrator, offering a simplified design experience without sacrificing quality. Adobe Express is equipped with a variety of templates, design assets, and editing tools. 

Pros:

• 30-day free trial

• Pre-sized social media templates for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc

• Integrates with Adobe products

• Mobile accessibility

Cons:

• Image resizing feature can be a bit less intuitive than expected

• Unless you’re already familiar with Adobe products, it may be challenging to learn how to use

• Pricing is a bit high

Tested by: Senior Project Manager, Renee Tate

“I used Adobe Express to create my original business logo and branding. I found the logo templates and brand color palette suggestions super helpful as I was getting started. However, when it came to applying my branding, the process wasn’t super intuitive, and often the suggested designs were unusable. I wish beginners had a little more guidance on what works and what doesn't. But the other cool thing I learned about Adobe Express is that any artwork available on the site has a transferable license, so once you use artwork in your design, the license is transferred to you, which is super helpful from a copyright perspective.”

Pixlr

Pixlr is yet another powerful, web-based photo editing tool that offers a suite of features suitable for beginners and advanced users. The plans include a free-to-use version, Plus, Premium, and Team. The pricing is pretty standard. The two main versions include Pixlr X, designed for quick and easy edits, and Pixlr E, which provides more advanced photo editing capabilities. Pixlr is known for its user-friendly interface and wide range of editing tools.

Pros:

• Mobile accessibility

• Free AI photo editor

• Cost-effective

• User-friendly interface

• Foreign language font support

Cons:

• The free version includes ads

• The quality of designs isn’t as pristine as Canva/Adobe Express

• Not compatible with all image and file formats

Tested by: Consultant, Erin Mishkin

“I like Pixlr for resizing images/graphics when I need more control than what Preview offers.”

Pro Tip: Our Consultant Erin also recommends the browser extension Eye Dropper, which allows you to find the exact color you need for branding purposes.

If you're curious about the TGL team and what we do or want to familiarize yourself with the voices behind these suggestions, check out our team page. Let us know in the comments below if we missed any fun graphic design sites we should try!